Present continuous tense with examples: A top English grammar guide

As a native French speaker who also learned Spanish and Italian, I always loved English grammar and conjugations for their simplicity. And I mean: loooove. No crazy endings, a reasonable list of irregular verbs, simple tenses, what else could you want from a language?

The present continuous is one of these super easy, useful tenses. If you’ve ever wanted to describe what you're doing right now, guess what? You need the present continuous tense. Whether you're talking about something that’s happening temporarily or making plans for the near future, this is your go-to tense.

Ready to master this tense that keeps the conversation dynamic and engaging? Keep reading!

What is the present continuous tense?

Define the present continuous tense and explain its general use to describe actions happening at the moment of speaking or around the current time.

The present continuous tense is like a live broadcast. It’s used to describe actions that are happening right now, around this time, or even temporary situations. For example: “I am watching the new shark movie on Netflix and eating ice cream.” Wow, multitasking! Two things — nobody said it had to be fascinating — happening in real-time.

How to form the present continuous tense

The structure of the present continuous tense is very easy (promise!).

Structure: Subject + am/is/are + verb-ing

That “verb-ing” part is what makes the action continuous.

Forms of the present continuous tense

Affirmative present continuous

Let’s start with how to say what you are doing right now.

Structure: Subject + am/is/are + verb-ing.

Easy, we said!

Example: I’m eating all the cake.

Examples of present continuous tense in its affirmative form

• I am reading this article.
• She is walking to work.
• They are laughing at a joke.
• We are playing a new game.
• He is cooking dinner — Oh, something with cheese I hope?
• The dog is barking outside.
• You are learning the present continuous tense right now.
• I am writing this article for the Berlitz blog.
• The kids are swimming in the pool.
• It is raining outside.

Negative form of the present continuous tense

Now, what if you’re not doing something? Yep, procrastinators, this one's for you! Below is how you form the negative form.

Structure: Subject + am/is/are not (isn't/aren't) + verb-ing.

And by the way, it’s also ok to not do anything sometimes!

Example: I’m not eating all the cake — How nice of you!

Examples of present continuous tense in its negative form

• I am not studying right now — well, read this article then!
• My nephew isn’t cleaning his room — Right, Augustin?
• We aren’t going to the party tonight.
• He isn’t listening to music.
• They aren’t working on the project.
• You aren’t driving at the moment.
• I am not finishing my homework yet.
• Our rabbit isn’t eating the couch (finally!).
• We aren’t eating dinner just yet.
• It isn’t snowing anymore.

Interrogative form of the present continuous tense

Need to ask a question? The present continuous has you covered.

Structure: Am/Is/Are + subject + verb-ing?

It’s the classic “What are you doing right now?” structure, perfect if you’re curious… or just nosy. Disclaimer: Berlitz declines all responsibility if you get an answer like “It’s none of your business!”

Example: Are you eating all the cake?

Examples of present continuous tense in its interrogative form

• Are you reading this?
• Is she writing her essay?
• Are we meeting later?
• Am I doing this correctly?
• Is he playing football now?
• Are they working on the presentation?
• Is the sun setting already?
• Are you laughing at my joke?
• Am I forgetting something important?
• Is it raining where you are?

Negative interrogative form of the present continuous tense

What if you want to ask and deny something at the same time? Well, let’s mix and match with the negative interrogative form!

Structure:

Am/Is/Are + subject + not + verb-ing?

Or:

Isn't/Aren't + subject + verb-ing?

This is for those moments when you're baffled, confused, doubtful, or just very curious.

Example: Aren’t you eating all the cake?

Examples of present continuous tense in its negative interrogative form

• Isn’t my niece learning her poem? — She should be, right Sixtine?
• Isn’t she working on that report?
• Aren’t we seeing that movie tomorrow?
• Am I not inviting you to dinner?
• Isn’t he studying right now?
• Aren’t they preparing for the test?
• Isn’t the bus coming soon?
• Am I not missing the point here?
• Isn’t it getting late?

When to use the present continuous tense

The present continuous tense is a versatile tense that you can use in the following situations.

Actions happening right now or around the moment of speaking.

• I am typing this article about English grammar right now.
• You are drinking coffee as we speak — Can I have some?
• She is talking on the phone.
• He is driving to work.
• They are watching TV at the moment.
• We are waiting for the bus.
• I am taking notes right now.
• She is cooking lunch.
• He is reading a book.
• You are learning something new with this article!

Temporary actions or situations.

• I am staying with friends this week.
• He is learning English temporarily — Why temporarily? Keep going!
• She is working from home for now.
• They are living in Miami for the summer.
• We are using a rental car.
• The store is offering discounts today.
• You are practicing yoga these days.
• The team is focusing on this project.
• He is sleeping on the couch tonight.
• I am trying out a new recipe for now — Are you sure?

Future plans or arrangements.

• I am meeting my friend tomorrow.
• We are going to Sigur Ros concert next week.
• He is starting his new job on Monday.
• They are traveling to Texas next month.
• She is visiting her family this weekend.
• I am seeing a doctor on Friday.
• You are flying to Chicago soon.
• He is playing in a football game later.
• We are having dinner with friends tonight.
• The company is launching a new product next year.

Repeated actions with "always" to express annoyance or criticism.

• He is always forgetting his keys.
• You are always interrupting me.
• She is always leaving her shoes everywhere.
• They are always arguing over silly things.
• He is always losing his phone.
• You are always complaining about the weather.
• She is always borrowing my clothes.
• They are always making noise at night.
• He is always showing up late.
• You are always eating my snacks!

Common expressions with the present continuous tense

Below are a few common expressions which enjoy hanging out with the present continuous tense.

Common mistakes to avoid

We’ll never tell you enough: Mistakes are more than ok — you need them to learn! But, of course, you can try to avoid the most common ones:

Don’t confuse the present continuous with the present simple

You’re talking about something happening right now, but you slip into the present simple and now, it sounds like you’re describing a regular habit.

Example: "I am eating chocolate cake" (currently devouring it) vs. "I eat chocolate cake" (which makes it sound like cake is your main diet — I’d follow this fad!).

Don’t forget the "-ing"

The present continuous doesn’t exist without the "-ing." So, don’t drop it!

Example: “I am eat the cake” (you Jane, me Tarzan) vs “I am eating the cake”.

Watch out for “always”

The present continuous can be used to express annoyance. If you’re merely stating a fact, you might want to use the present simple instead.

Example: "You’re always leaving your shoes in the hallway" (and it’s driving me crazy!) vs. "You always leave your shoes" (just a fact, no annoyance).

Don’t use the present continuous for permanent situations

Present continuous is for temporary actions, and it’s not appropriate to describe something that’s true over time or permanent.

Example: "She is living in New Orleans" (temporary) vs. "She lives in New Orleans" (permanent situation).

Confusing stative verbs

Some verbs just don’t work well with present continuous — we can’t all get along! — like "want,", "know" or "believe." These are stative verbs, and, as their name indicates, they express states, not actions.

Example: "I am knowing the answer" vs "I know the answer".

Tips for mastering the present continuous tense

Now that you know what mistakes to avoid, it’s time to learn a few tips. And if grammar is not your thing, don’t worry — you won’t find dusty exercise books or boring lessons in there!

Show it off

The more you show off your present continuous, the more natural it will get. So, talk, talk, talk, and if your friends and family are tired of it, keep talking… to your plants and pets! No judging, they’re the best listeners and they love everything you say.

Binge on… grammar lessons

Now you have a great and productive excuse to watch series on Netflix. Pay close attention to the dialogue and try to spot the present continuous. Trust us, it’s not elusive!

Narrate your fabulous life

You are fabulous, and so is your life. Be your own reality show! Narrate your actions as you go: “I am making the best breakfast ever”, “I’m learning the present continuous and I’m loving it” or “I am scrolling through Facebook and I don’t care, I like it.” Not only is it fun, but it will help you master the present continuous in no time. Hopefully, you live alone…

Text it

Don’t just tell your friends about your day, tell them what you are doing right now! “I am chilling with my bunny on the couch,” or “I’m baking a cake as we speak.” Fascinating, isn’t it?

Own your mistakes

Who doesn’t mess up? If you make a mistake, just acknowledge it and congratulate yourself for noticing it!

Ok, enough present continuous tense for today! You’ve just unlocked all the secrets of the present continuous, and now, I’m sure you’re already thinking about how to use it!

Whether you’re narrating your epic life, planning something awesome, or just explaining a temporary situation, this is your go-to tense. It’s the tense that keeps things moving, because languages — and life — are never static!

And if you want to keep learning, make sure to continuously check our English blog!